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Grateful for Today

I'm reading a book by Marcus Luttrell called Lone Survivor. I can only give it 3 of 5 stars because he uses lots of profanity and has Texas/George Bush idol worship going on which detracts from his otherwise excellent writing. However, I did find some excellent nuggets in the book. I enjoy books about the military especially about the elite special forces of the world. Luttrell was a U.S. Navy SEAL and his account of BUD/S is the best account of special ops training that I've read. I never had the privilege of being part of an elite special ops team like the SEAL, Beret, and Ranger soldiers that I've met but I wanted to very badly. Instead, my path led to some elite assignments in the army infantry and as an army helicopter pilot and I'm grateful for those days. Good times. Forever memories. Luttrell recounts his encounters with navy captain Joe Maquire, a decorated combat SEAL. Maquire's advice to the trainees ring true for me as the parent of a teenager. I love my daughter and have studied enough parenting books to know that she's acting crazy at times but completely normal for this age. I found peace after reading Capt. Maquire's advice, watching the movie Juno with the family last night and remembering Jesus' words to the world.

Capt. Maquire's advice to SEAL candidates (good for parents too):
Complete each task as it comes.
Live for the day.
Don't dread the pain and anguish to come.
Take it hour by hour and forget the future.
Keep going until you're secured.

My favorite lines from the movie Juno, after she breaks the news that she's 16 and pregnant (a fear I have as a father):
The Dad: Did you see that coming?
The Step Mom: Yeah... but I was hoping she was expelled, or into hard drugs.
The Dad: Or DWI... anything but this.

and Jesus said:
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

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